Miami Heat Defeats Motion to Dismiss in ‘Culture’ Trademark Litigation

By Phillip J. Miller, of Segal McCambridge On April 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Hon. Gregory J. Woods) denied Joel Pena’s motion to dismiss the counterclaims of Miami Heat Limited Partnership (“Miami Heat”), which sought a declaratory judgment and cancellation of Pena’s federal and state trademarks.[1] Miami Heat raised those counterclaims in response to the lawsuit that Pena initiated, which accused Miami Heat of trademark infringement. In